ugly duckling - Definition & Meaning

an unattractive or unsuccessful person or thing that later turns attractive or successfulan unattractive or unsuccessful person or thing that later turns attractive or successful

The phrase "Ugly duckling" comes from a classic children's story by Hans Christian Andersen called "The Ugly Duckling," in which a young bird grows into a beautiful swan. The idiom is often used to describe situations where someone or something undergoes a remarkable positive change.The phrase "Ugly duckling" comes from a classic children's story by Hans Christian Andersen called "The Ugly Duckling," in which a young bird grows into a beautiful swan. The idiom is often used to describe situations where someone or something undergoes a remarkable positive change.

例句

As a child, Jane was awkward and shy, but in her teenage years she blossomed into a beautiful young woman - a true "ugly duckling" story.
小时候，简笨拙害羞，但在她的青少年时期，她成长为一个美丽的年轻女子 - 一个真正的丑小鸭故事。
The small, struggling startup was once dismissed as an "ugly duckling", but after securing major funding and hiring top talent it's now seen as a rising star in the industry.
这家苦苦挣扎的小型初创公司曾被视为“丑小鸭”，但在获得重大资金并聘请顶级人才后，现在被视为行业中的后起之秀。